Let’s face it, we love Massage yet find ourselves too busy, or too broke to get one from a trained therapist. There are some things only a trained therapist can achieve; however, there are many things we can do on our own to achieve lasting results for everyday aches and pains.
Apply lotions Purposefully. The long, smoothing strokes of Swedish massage will enhance circulation of blood, lymph fluids, and extract toxins from withing the muscle fibers. After smoothing lotion over the area (especially the legs) cup your hands as if holding water, apply a light to medium pressure with the outside edge of hand, making firm contact from palm to pinky tip.
On legs, start from the knee working toward the hip, drawing long, slow, even strokes all the way through. You will notice that the skin will change color over the area you are working, usually to a lighter appearance. This is good, as you are moving the blood and lymph fluids along. Continue until you have covered the entire area. Do the same from ankle to knee, then even longer strokes all the way from ankle to hip to complete the sequence.

For the arms use the same technique working from elbows to shoulder, then wrists to elbow, and finally all the way from wrist to shoulder.

Neck Release is a bit trickier, but still possible, and can be done while watching TV, listening to music, or even better, while in the sauna or steam room. This is where you will feel your way along. Using the thumbs where the head meets the back of the neck , apply a deep tissue pressure downward, feeling your way along the bumpy parts (transverse processes) of the cervical spine, as far as you can comfortably reach. For a greater stretch, turn, lean, or lower your head SLOWLY at the same time. Working around the base of the skull, cover every area of the neck to the top of the shoulders.
Keep in mind that working the neck is very tender, and sometimes feels as if the tissue is ripping/tearing away from the head. If this happens, lessen the pressure, reverse direction, then support the area of sensation with the fingers of the other hand, and continue. This technique is most beneficial when done before sleep, as the neck needs time to integrate what has been done, and will usually feel a bit sore the next day.
Self massage can be the most valuable tool one can have to maintain health and wellness. The best things in Life are Free!

Namaste from Massage Solutions